Process of making pneumatic crutch pads



Jam. 16 E923.

J. J. BOUERS; PRocE ss m= MAKING PNEUMATIC CRuTcH Has.

FILED MAR.

INVENTOR Patented Jan. 16, 19523.

warren STATES,

JOSEPH JAMES BOWERS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS OF MAKING PNEUMATIC CRU'TCH PADS.

Application filed March 24, 1920. Serial No. 368,240.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JosEPH JAMES Bownns, a citizen of Canada, residing at 514 Fulton St, San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Process of Making Pneumatic Crutch Pads, of which the following is a specification. s

This invention relates to an air inflated rubber pad to be attached to the top of crutches fortlie arm rest.

The objects of my improvement are, to alleviate, through the resiliency of these pads, the pressure on the arms, or arm-pits of persons compelled to bear the weight of their body upon crutches. I attain this, object with the articles illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which there are twotypes but are for the one and ultimate object in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation and part section. Fig. 2 a cross section on line 2, 2, of. Fig. 1. Fig. 3, side elevation of the modified form with valve in base which I shall described later on. The top side of the pad is convex, and the under side or base is concave as can be seen on .Fig. 2.

The body of the pad is composed of unvulcanized sheet rubber about in thick- .ness, and formed in the shape of a hollow tube, Fig. 1 No. 1, inside of which has been cemented a small plug of pure gum rubber, Fig. 1 No. 2, both ends of the tube are sealed up and made air tight.

A hollow metal needle is inserted into the body of the pad Fig.1 No. 1, but directly beneath the rubber plug, Fig. 1 No. 2, and pressed up through said plug. The requiredamount of compressed air is now forced through the needle, then withdrawn, and thru the adhesive qualities of the pure gum plug. The small aperture made by the neede is sealed up. The pad is then covered entirely. with a fabric, Fig. 1 No. 3, which is rubber coated, this rubber coating enabling-itto adhere firmly to the yet unvulcanized sheet rubber 0f the body of pad. This fabric or any other felt or cloth covering can be applied to pad either before or after the molding process, Fig. 1 No. 1.

There is now placed cross-wise on the under side or base -of the pad, four metal strips, which are covered with a piece of fabric the same width but running the length of pad, Fig. 1 No. 5, (these metal strips are later removed). .The pad is now put into a mold of the desired shape, put under steam pressure for a determined length of time, and degree of heat and vulcanized into one incorporate whole, retaining the air within. The pad is then removed from the mold, the strips of metal previously referred to are removed from under the fabric strip Fig. 1 N0. 5, leaving aper-' tures 4. 4. 4. 4, as shown in Fig. 3. These apertures are for the admittance of straps, Fig. l. N o. 4, to be attached to top or armrest of crutch, for holding pad in place.

In Figure 3. of the accompanying drawing is the same article in all detail except the method of inflation, as can be seen from plate. Instead of inflating thrua small rubber plug, I have attached a rubber tube with a fabric covering which is fitted into the body of the pad, Fig. 1 No. l, in the center on the base Fig. 3, No. 6. This rubber tube is fitted with an air valve Fig. 3, No. 7. It is molded up as before described, the valve is left in permanently to allow for the inflation or deflation of air at ones conven- 0 ience, the valve itself seats down into a hole that can be drilled in top of crutch.

These pads as described are two different types, which-mutually contribute to produce a single result. I do not claim the 86 methods of injecting air into, or inflating these pads only as it applies to crutch pads as herein described; but

I claim:

The process of making an air-inflated 90 pneumatic crutch-pad as described using unvulcanized sheet rubber, formed in the shape of a hollow tube, sealing up both ends of said tube, cutting a small hole in the middle on the underside or base of said tube, attaching a small unvulcani'zed rubber tube with a fabric covering so as to connect with the inside of aforesaid tube or body, inserting in this small tube an air valve, covering the whole with a fabric cov- 10o ering placing metal strips cross-wise on base, covering these strips with a strip of fabric running the length of tube, lacing the whole in a mold of the desired shape, forcing compressed air through aforesaid valve and vulcanizing into one incorporated whole, then removing the strips of metal,

leaving apertures for the admittance of straps, all substantiall as set forth. JOSEPH AMES BOWERS. 

